Page 14 of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox
Yeah, him
Hang on
He’s right here.
Moments later, Akira passed along a snapshot of a boy wearing a high-collared school uniform. He had brown skin, a hooked nose, unruly black hair, and a faint smile. The boy might have passed for a typical exchange student if it weren’t for his eyes. A second picture followed, a selfie in which Akira grinned up at her while the Amaranthine leaned in from behind, his arms around her little brother’s shoulders—possessive, protective. The close-up confirmed the vibrant orange of his eyes and revealed clawed hands.
Akira texted fast.
Bout time you got a phone so I can show you stuff
Suuzu is my best friend
We share a room in the dorm
He wishes to greet my esteemed nestmate
He says stuff like that
I’m glad you have Suuzu.
Tell him I’m honored to know him.
There’s an Amaranthine here, too.
But he’s hard to get to know.
Which clan?
Fox.
Suuzu says to be careful of tricks
How many tails?
Pardon?
He says with foxes, the more tails,
the more trouble
Not sure, but don’t worry. I’ll be fine.
When you visit, bring Suuzu. He’s very welcome.
After her brother’s enthusiastic acceptance, she tucked away her phone and puzzled over this newest bit of information. How did one go about asking their butler if he had a tail … or tails?
Shaking her head, she decided to look for the nearest stairway. If nothing else, she knew the kitchen was down, and Sansa probably had lunch ready by now. But when she left the tower room, her steps faltered.
She was quite sure that the room she’d passed through earlier had pale blue walls. Hadn’t the trim been white? And she distinctly remembered tiptoeing across plush carpeting daubed with yellow flower petals. But now the room was the deep green of forests, and the bare boards underfoot were stained such a dark brown, they were nearly black.
Tsumiko looked back, checking to see if there was another door. But no, she stood in the only entrance. Was the blue room beyond this one, then? Maybe she was simply mixed up.
But the next room was yellow, then one with red decor. And she didn’t see the door to the stairs. Had she missed it?
Backtracking through the red and yellow rooms, she found herself in a narrow hall hung with shields. “Thiswasn’there a minute ago.” Increasingly baffled, she looked back, only to find the yellow room traded for a library with a crackling fireplace.
She blinked.
